Skydive Indoors at Paraclete XP SkyVenture

Paraclete XP SkyVenture in Raeford

Some people fly on a plane. Some people fly in their dreams. Now you can fly fully awake, without jumping out of a plane or buckling into seat 26A. Paraclete XP SkyVenture in Raeford, about 30 minutes west of Fayetteville, offers you indoor skydiving, minus the risk.

You don’t need prior flying experience. Just suit up and let the instructors prepare you with the fundamentals of how to fly in Paraclete’s wind tunnel chamber. The wind tunnel moves air up in a vertical column, carrying you in a controlled soar in the safety of a conical room. The room’s Plexiglas windows mean your family and friends can watch as you fly, and then you can watch them. Huge fans create wall-to-wall airflow in the climate-controlled tunnel with a 16.5-foot circular chamber. Its four fans, 541 horsepower each, create air speeds of up to 185 mph, stronger than a Category 5 hurricane.

You will fly alone with your instructor, but the tunnel can also accommodate flights with others in your group. With an instructor, even first-time fliers of all ages can ascend the full 50 feet. During your first trip, you’ll learn how to fly in place and move back and forth in the chamber. On subsequent visits, you’ll be instructed on doing tricks, such as turns and flips. After your flight, captured on high-definition video in the chamber, you’ll learn more about flying during a quick and effective debriefing session.